Villains Wiki

Hi. This is Thesecret1070. I am an admin of this site. Edit as much as you wish, but one little thing... If you are going to edit a lot, then make yourself a user and login. Other than that, enjoy Villains Wiki!!!

READ MORE

Villains Wiki
Register
Advertisement
Warning
Scarfaceinthefall
This article's content is marked as Mature
The page contains mature content that may include coarse language, sexual references, and/or graphic violent images which may be disturbing to some. Mature pages are recommended for those who are 18 years of age and older.

If you are 18 years or older or are comfortable with graphic material, you are free to view this page. Otherwise, you should close this page and view another page.

All sinners are equal before the Gods.
~ High Sparrow's view on divine judgment.
To die in the service of the gods would please each and everyone of us. We yearn for it.
~ The High Sparrow showing Ser Jaime that he doesn't fear death.

The High Sparrow, mostly known as the High Septon, is a major antagonist in the A Song of Ice and Fire novel series and its television adaptation Game of Thrones. He is introduced as a leading member of the Sparrows, a newly founded sect of the Faith of the Seven, until he became the new High Septon of the Seven Kingdoms. He is responsible for the restoration of the Faith Militant, the military arm of the Faith.

He is described to be truly devoted to the Faith of the Seven and has an iron will, being immune to every temptation or weakness. Prior to the death of Lord Tywin Lannister, he was a traveling septon, who lived all over the realm and walked upon villages that were too small to have their own septs and performed the traditional duties of his job, such as naming newborn children, absolving sins and performing marriages. He is extremely devout and fanatical to the Seven, and joined the Sparrows, a new order that rose as a result of the atrocities of the War of the Five Kings.

He was appointed as the new High Septon by the Sparrows, who forced the Most Devout to name him over Septon Luceon (born Frey). The High Sparrow restores much of the Faith's old authority over of the capital of King's Landing (with also the unintentional help of Queen Cersei Lannister).

His plans however doesn't stop in King's Landing, however, as he wants to deal with the foreign religion/faith of R'hllor, the Lord of Light a deity that he and many Westerosi condemn as a demon.

He was portrayed by Jonathan Pryce, who also portrayed General Vavarin Delatombe in The Brothers Grimm, Elliot Carver in Tomorrow Never Dies, Mr. Dark in Something Wicked This Way Comes, and Paul Dellenbach in Renaissance.

Biography[]

A Feast for Crows[]

On the Rosby road, Brienne of Tarth spots a group of sparrows led by a septon with feet that are "bare and black, gnarled and hard as tree roots", a lean face, and grey-and-brown hair. He is going to King's Landing with bones of septons killed in the Riverlands. After the previous High Septon is slain, the Most Devout begin the selection process to see who of them will become the new High Septon. According to Qyburn, the sparrows forcibly took over the selection process by bursting into the chambers with axes in hand and with their leader, the small septon, on their shoulders. The Most Devout relent in fear and they name the sparrows' septon as the new High Septon.

The new High Septon begins his term by selling all of the golden crowns, including his own, and unique robes of cloth and gold. The money earned from this is used to buy food for the sparrows and the poor. He then clads himself in a humble wool robe and other Most Devout are forced to follow suit. Cersei Lannister, in order to secure the Faith's blessing for her son and cancel the near one million dragons the crown owed to the Faith, foolishly allows the High Septon to restore the Faith Militant, oblivious to its history. This military arm of the Faith has not existed in the realm since it was disbanded by Jaehaerys I Targaryen. His army of sparrows soon became Poor Fellows of old and over a hundred knights immediately joined the Warrior's Sons. The new High Septon becomes commonly known as the High Sparrow after a jape by court fool Moon Boy.

The Faith, emboldened by their new power, arrests Margaery Tyrell and her cousins when Osney Kettleblack falsely confesses to bedding the girls. The High Sparrow is suspicious of Osney's confession, as he had never heard a confession from a man so pleased and enthusiastic to be guilty. He has Osney scourged, and the knight confesses the actual truth; Cersei had him lie and kill the previous High Septon under her orders. When Cersei Lannister visits the Great Sept of Baelor, the High Sparrow has her arrested and imprisoned on similar, but accurate, charges.

A Dance with Dragons[]

Since the evidence against Margaery and her cousins is quite weak, the High Sparrow releases them into the custody of Randyll Tarly. He makes Lord Tarly swear a holy oath to return them to King's Landing for trial. The High Sparrow then sees Cersei when she says she wishes to confess. To try and gain access to visitors, Cersei decides to confess many of her crimes to him. She confessed that she did have relations with her cousin Lancel and the Kettleblack brothers. She knows such sins would not earn her an execution, but denies the sins that would earn her death such as ordering Ser Osney Kettleback to kill the previous High Septon and her involvement in the death of her husband Robert I Baratheon. Accepting her confessions, the High Sparrow agrees to allow her one visitor a day.

He further agrees to release Cersei on the condition that she perform a walk of atonement through the streets of King's Landing to which she reluctantly agrees. Even after she completed the walk,Cersei and Margaery, who is still under house arrest, are to still to be put on trial. While Cersei chose trial by combat with the mysterious Kingsguard Ser Robert Strong as her champion, Margaery chose trial by the Faith. Lord Regent Kevan Lannister,Randyll Tarly, who is Master of Laws, and Hand of the King Mace Tyrell are frustrated of having to give in to the demands of the "High Sparrow". With so many rebellious subjects in the Seven Kingdoms, however, they dare not be seen to go against the Faith, lest it drive the pious into the arms of another claimant to the Iron Throne. The High Sparrow disapproves of Stannis Baratheon's new faith in R'hllor, the Lord of Light, believing that Stannis himself has turned from the truth of the Seven to worshipping a red demon and that his false faith has no place in the Seven Kingdoms.

Game of Thrones[]

After talking with her cousin Lancel and hearing about the Faith Militant and High Sparrow, Cersei pays him a visit. His church had already raided and destroyed the former brothel of Petyr Baelish, showing the power they had amassed in the area. She sees the kind old man feeding the poor, and notices the influence he has on the community. Instead of jailing him for what he did, she makes his group the religious authority of King's Landing. Seeking vengeance against house Tyrell, Cersei reveals that Ser Loras Tyrell is a homosexual and the Faith Militant has him arrested. At his inquest, he denies being gay, and his sister Margaery claims this as well. Then, to Loras' horror, the Faith bring in one of Loras' lovers, who says that he is indeed gay and that his sister walked in on them once. Because of this, the faith has both Loras and her sister locked up (Margaery for lying under oath). Their grandmother Lady Olenna Tyrell confronts the High Sparrow and offers him various things in exchange for their freedom. However, the High Sparrow refuses, as he only cared about delivering what he views as justice. Olenna threatens that she will cease giving the capitol crops, and the High Sparrow warns her that she is one of the few and not the many. Later, Cersei runs into him and the two discuss the upcoming trial for the Tyrell siblings. The High Sparrow begins dropping hints that Cersei herself isn't innocent at all, and after Lancel appears (who Cersei had an incestuous affair with in season 1) she knows she is in trouble. The former queen cannot escape though, and is thrown into a cell by one of the faith militant. The High Sparrow having imprisoned both queen Margaery and Cersei, now had total power over even the royal family. No one in King's Landing was safe any more from his crusade. After Cersei confessed some of her sins, though she denied the ones that would earn her an execution, the High Sparrow has her go through a walk of penance. Outside the great sept of Baelor, he declares to a crowd of smallfolk of Cersei's atonement for her sins. Near the end of season 6, the High Sparrow and his followers were killed when Cersei destroyed the Sept of Baelor by igniting a cache of wildfire, killing everyone inside and anyone else within a three block radius.

Quotes[]

Septon: Join us, friends. Westeros has need of every sword.
Creighton: We were bound for Duskendale, but mayhaps we could see you safely to King's Landing.
Illifer: If you have the coin to pay us for this escort.
Septon: Sparrows need no gold.
Creighton: Sparrows?
Septon: The sparrow is the humblest and most common of birds, as we are the humblest and most common of men.
~ The High Sparrow as a traveling septon, speaking to Brienne Tarth, Ser Creighton Longbough and Ser Illifer the Penniless, while on his way to King's Landing with other Sparrows.
These are the bones of holy men, murdered for their faith. They served the Seven even unto death. Some starved, some were tortured. Septs have been despoiled, maidens and mothers raped by godless men and demon worshipers. Even silent sisters have been molested. Our Mother Above cries out in her anguish. It is time for all anointed knights to forsake their worldly masters and defend our Holy Faith. Come with us to the city, if you love the Seven.
~ The traveling septon, to Ser Creighton Longbough, Ser Illifer the Penniless, and Brienne of Tarth.
I seldom feel so close to God as when I am being whipped for mine own wickedness, though my darkest sins are no wise near as black as his.
~ The High Sparrow, as the High Septon, about Ser Osney Kettleblack.
The wickedness of widows is well-known, and all women are wantons at heart, given to using their wiles and their beauty to work their wills on men.
~ The High Septon to Cersei Lannister.
Lord Stannis has turned from the truth of the Seven to worship a red demon, and his false faith has no place in these Seven Kingdoms.
~ The High Septon.

Gallery[]

Images[]

Videos[]

Trivia[]

  • The High Sparrow shares some similarities to Melisandre. Both are priests willing to do extreme things to advance their religions. Both of them were given great power by royalty as well. The big difference is that Melisandre is in favor of sex and is not as pious. High Sparrow on the other hand gives all accused trials, and does not burn non-believers alive.
  • The High Sparrow also has multiple similarities to Baelor I Targaryen. Both are initially presented as being kind-hearted and benevolent individuals, but are later recess to be fanatical zealots who make many questionable decisions for their faith.
  • The High Sparrow's actor looks very close to the current Pope, Francis (Pryce would later portray Pope Francis in The Two Popes). Both are the head of their respective religions as well. Whether or not this casting was intentional or a coincidence is unknown.
  • While he is still quite misogynistic in the books, the Sparrow is in some ways less villainous. Unlike the usual corrupt Septons and nobility, the High Sparrow seems to genuinely want to help the poor, even selling much of the Faith's wealth to buy food for the poor.
  • In the books the Sparrow movement grew out of the suffering of the smallfolk in the war and the abuses of power by the nobility, such as the burning of the Riverlands by Rorge and the Red Wedding, causing a group including the High Sparrow to come to King's Landing and gather support.
  • This High Septon is not appointed by Cersei in the books. During an election for the new High Septon, Septon Luceon, a son of Walder Frey, is almost elected but a crowd of Sparrows get into the Great Sept of Baelor with the High Sparrow and force the Most Devout to elect him High Septon.
  • He judges all the worst-reputed combatants of the War of the Five Kings as nothing but godless men or demon worshippers, mostly referring to the crimes of Vargo Hoat, the Hound and their fellow Brave Companions, Stannis and his vassal worshippers of R'hllor, House Clegane and its warband, the most brutal vassal northerners of Robb's army, and House Lannister's most brutal vassal soldiers. While speaking to the High Septon, Cersei only names Stannis and his army "demon worshippers".

Navigation[]

           A Song of Ice and Fire Logo Villains

Westeros
Beyond the Wall
The Others
Night King | White Walker Commander | Viserion | Wights

Giants
Mag Mar Tun Doh Weg | Dongo

Free Folk
Mance Rayder | Tormund Giantsbane | Styr | Rattleshirt | Orell | Craster | Varamyr Sixskins | Harma Dogshead | The Weeper | Alfyn Crowkiller | Ygritte | Hali

Night's Watch
Night's King | Alliser Thorne | Bowen Marsh | Othell Yarwyck | Janos Slynt | Olly | Karl Tanner | Dirk | Ollo Lophand | Clubfoot Karl | Chett | Rast | Brant | Derek | Stiv | Wallen | Rorge | Biter | George Graceford | Perkin the Flea | Rat Cook

The North
House Stark
Theon Stark | Cregan Stark | Arya Stark | Tom

House Bolton
Royce IV Bolton | Roose Bolton | Ramsay Bolton | Locke | Reek | Myranda | Little Walder Frey | Big Walder Frey | Bastard's Boys | Master torturer | Smalljon Umber

House Karstark
Rickard Karstark | Harald Karstark | Arnolf Karstark | Cregan Karstark | Arthor Karstark

The Vale of Arryn
House Arryn
Lysa Arryn | Mandon Moore | Marillion | Mord | Lyn Corbray

House Baelish
Petyr Baelish | Oswell Kettleblack

Vale Mountain Clans
Shagga

Riverlands
House Baelish of Harrenhal
Petyr Baelish

House Frey
Walder Frey | Emmon Frey | Aenys Frey | Walder Rivers | Jared Frey | Hosteen Frey | Symond Frey | Merrett Frey | Raymund Frey | Lothar Frey | Whalen Frey | Benfrey Frey | Ryman Frey | Rhaegar Frey | Big Walder Frey | Little Walder Frey | Edwyn Frey | Black Walder Frey | Tytos Frey | Leslyn Haigh | Harys Haigh

House Strong
Larys Strong | Alys Rivers | Larys Strong's prisoners

Brotherhood without Banners
Lady Stoneheart | Lem Lemoncloak | Tom of Sevenstreams | Morgan | Gatins

Others
Chett | Garse Goodbrook | Lysa Tully | Danelle Lothston | Lothar Bracken | Harren the Red

Iron Islands
House Greyjoy
Balon IX Greyjoy | Euron III Greyjoy | Victarion Greyjoy | Aeron Greyjoy | Asha Greyjoy | Yara Greyjoy | Theon Greyjoy | Dagmer Cleftjaw | Black Lorren | Stygg | Drennan | Adrack Humble | Red Oarsman | Lucas Codd | Torwold Browntooth | Harrag | Iron Fleet

House Greyjoy (historical)
Dalton Greyjoy

House Hoare
Qhored I Hoare | Hagon Hoare | Harwyn Hoare | Harren Hoare

Others
Joron I Blacktyde | Urrathon IV Goodbrother | Urron Greyiron | The Shrike

Westerlands
House Lannister
Tywin Lannister | Cersei Lannister | Jaime Lannister | Tyrion Lannister | Lancel Lannister | Amory Lorch | Ilyn Payne | Preston Greenfield | Shae | Lowell

House Lannister (historical)
Jason Lannister | Lann the Clever

House Clegane
Gregor Clegane | Sandor Clegane | Polliver | Rafford | The Tickler | Weasel | Mountain's Men

House Reyne
Ellyn Reyne | Roger Reyne

House Spicer
Rolph Spicer | Sybell Spicer

Others
Alfred Broome | Androw Farman

Crownlands
House Targaryen
Aegon I Targaryen | Visenya Targaryen | Rhaenys Targaryen | Maegor I Targaryen | Daemon Targaryen | Rhaenyra Targaryen | Aegon II Targaryen | Aemond Targaryen | Daeron Targaryen | Daeron I Targaryen | Baelor I Targaryen | Aegon IV Targaryen | Aerion Targaryen | Aerys II Targaryen | Rhaegar Targaryen | Viserys Targaryen | Daenerys I Targaryen

Greens
Aegon II Targaryen | Aemond Targaryen | Daeron Targaryen | Otto Hightower | Alicent Hightower | Criston Cole | Borros Baratheon | Jason Lannister | Unwin Peake | George Graceford | Orwyle | Jon Roxton | Larys Strong | Larys Strong's prisoners | Alys Rivers | Hugh Hammer | Ulf White | Hobert Hightower | Alfred Broome | Arryk Cargyll | Marston Waters | Perkin the Flea | Luthor Largent | Caltrops

Blacks
Rhaenyra Targaryen | Daemon Targaryen | Cregan Stark | Mysaria | Hugh Hammer | Ulf White | Luthor Largent | Bartimos Celtigar | Alfred Broome | Dalton Greyjoy | Blood and Cheese

House Baratheon of King's Landing
Robert I Baratheon | Joffrey I Baratheon | Cersei Lannister | Jaime Lannister | Janos Slynt | Ilyn Payne | Bronn | Sandor Clegane | Boros Blount | Meryn Trant | Mandon Moore | Preston Greenfield | Kettleblack Brothers | Robert Strong | Catspaw

House Baratheon of Dragonstone
Stannis Baratheon | Selyse Florent | Melisandre | Axell Florent | Richard Horpe | Clayton Suggs | Shadow Assassins

House Blackfyre
Daemon I Blackfyre | Daemon II Blackfyre | Aegor Rivers | Maelys I Blackfyre | Golden Company

House Kettleblack
Osmund Kettleblack | Osfryd Kettleblack | Osney Kettleblack

Faith of the Seven
Baelor I Targaryen | High Sparrow | Septa Unella | Faith Militant | Lancel Lannister | The Shepherd

City Watch of King's Landing
Daemon Targaryen | Janos Slynt | Bronn | Osfryd Kettleblack | Blood | Perkin the Flea

Alchemists' Guild
Rossart | Hallyne | Garigus | Belis

Others
Rorge | Biter | Arryk Cargyll | Bartimos Celtigar | Hugh Hammer | Luthor Largent | Ulf White | Marston Waters | Olyvar | King's Landing Rioters

Stormlands
House Baratheon
Robert I Baratheon | Stannis Baratheon | Renly Baratheon | Joffrey Baratheon | Richard Horpe | Meryn Trant

House Baratheon (historical)
Orys Baratheon | Borros Baratheon

Others
Criston Cole

The Reach
House Tyrell
Mace Tyrell | Loras Tyrell | Randyll Tarly

House Florent
Axell Florent | Selyse Florent

House Hightower
Lord Hobert Hightower | Ormund Hightower | Otto Hightower | Alicent Hightower | Hobert Hightower

House Peake
Unwin Peake | Amaury Peake | Mervyn Flowers | Gormon Peake

The Citadel
Pycelle | Orwyle | Qyburn

Others
Jon Roxton | George Graceford | Bronn

Dorne
Morion Martell | Ellaria Sand | Gerold Dayne | Nymeria Sand | Obara Sand | Tyene Sand | Wyl of Wyl | Vulture Kings

Others
Shagwell | Smiling Knight | The Little Birds | The Rat, the Hawk, and the Pig

Essos
Free Cities
Belicho Paenymion | Ben Plumm | Bloodbeard | Craghas Drahar | Daario Naharis | Second Sons | Doreah | Illyrio Mopatis | Jaqen H'ghar | Kindly Man | Malaquo Maegyr | Mero | Moqorro | Mysaria | Ollo Lophand | Pretty Meris | Tattered Prince | The old man | Tyanna of the Tower | Vargo Hoat | Varys | Sorcerer | Waif | Bianca | Triarchy | Saan Family | Band of Nine | The little birds

Golden Company
Aegor Rivers | Maelys I Blackfyre | Harry Strickland

Brave Companions
Vargo Hoat | Rorge | Biter | Shagwell | Qyburn

The Sorrows
Stone Men

Dothraki Sea
Dothraki | Drogo | Jhaqo | Mago | Moro | Qotho | Qhono | Qorro | Brozho | Rhalko | Forzho | Wine Merchant

Lhazar
Mirri Maz Duur

Slaver's Bay
Great Masters | Wise Masters | Good Masters | Hizdahr zo Loraq | Kraznys mo Nakloz | Grazdan mo Ullhor | Cleon the Great | Malko | Oznak zo Pahl | Prendahl na Ghezn | Razdal mo Eraz | Yezzan zo Qaggaz | Reznak mo Reznak | Skahaz mo Kandaq | Sons of the Harpy | Vala | Grey Worm | Unsullied

Qarth
The Pureborn | The Undying Ones | Pyat Pree | Warlocks of Qarth | Xaro Xhoan Daxos | Sorrowful Men

Collections of Countries
Old Empire of Ghis | Valyrian Freehold | Slaver Alliance

Far East Essos
Yi Ti
Bloodstone Emperor | Lo Bu | Jar Har

Asshai and Shadow Lands
Melisandre | Shadow Assassins

Across the Known World
Crew of the Silence

Dragons
Balerion | The Cannibal | Drogon | Meraxes | Rhaegal | Silverwing | Sunfyre | Vermithor | Vhagar | Viserion

Deities
Drowned God | Great Other | Horse God | Lion of Night | Many-Faced God | Old Gods | Old Ones | R'hllor | Storm God

Advertisement